Jharkhand tribals agitate against forceful land acquisition

Ranchi, Jan 19 (ANI): Tribals in held are agitating against the forceful acquisition of 227 acres of land by the state authorities for a proposed law college.

Hundreds gathered in Ranchi on Wednesday and shouted slogans and burnt an effigy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

Interacting with mediapersons, the protesters said the land had been acquired illegally by the state authorities, and without the consent of the farmers who own the land.

"The state government had forcefully acquired our land few days back. They have acquired approximately 227 acres of tribal land with the help of the police in the area. The state government says that it has legally acquired the land and will use it to build a law college, these claims are not true," said Prabhakar Tirkey, an activist.

Veteran tribal rights activist, Dayamani Barla condemned Munda for failing to understand tribals sentiments.

"The state government under the governance of Arjun Munda has done injustice with tribals by forcefully acquiring their lands. The government is using police force to pressurize tribals and forcefully acquiring their farmlands. We condemn the state government and its activities in the state," said Barla.

According to an Annual Report of the Ministry of Rural Development of the Government of India, Jharkhand topped the list of Adivasi land alienation in India in 2004-05, with 86,291 cases involving 10,48,93 acres of land. (ANI)